The Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire announces 2013 grant awards of $81,700 to the NH Fish and Game Department. Board Chair Steve White reports this is a new record for the annual grant program. Funding for this year’s grant program came from the Foundation’s annual NH Moose Permit Auction as well private and corporate donations, including a generous anonymous donation.
Grants this year were awarded to the following projects: protective covers at the Berlin Fish Hatchery production tanks; support of the 150th Anniversary of the NH Fish and Game Department; Law Enforcement Division for a dive team boat; a joint project between Landowner Relations and Law Enforcement for remote cameras to monitor illegal activities on private open lands; the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program for remote cameras to monitor endangered wildlife species; signs, kiosks and information panels in Wildlife Management Areas around the state; and the 2014 NH Hunting & Fishing Expo to help underwrite the cost of running next year’s event.
In addition to these grants, the Foundation supports on-going program needs at the Department by acting as a fiscal agent for individual and corporate donations. Examples of these restricted funds are the Barry Camp Renovations and Long-Term Maintenance Program, Karner Blue Butterfly Restoration Program, Canine Program, and Operation Game Thief Program.
With the fall 2013 grant awards made to the NH Fish and Game Department, the total funds raised by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH topped $600,000, and with federal grants leveraged over $1 million for more than 30 programs and projects to date. A complete list of grants awarded to date to the NH Fish and Game Department is listed under the GRANT PROJECTS page. The Foundation also manages restricted fund accounts for Barry Conservation Camp Maintenance and the Canine Program. The funds include donations from individuals, members of the Board of Directors, corporations and clubs, as well as grants from corporate and private foundations and proceeds from raffles, auctions and other fundraisers. Of particular note is the annual Moose Permit Auction run by the Foundation which brings in an average of $40,000 a year.